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Chaperone solvent-assisted assembly of polymers at the interface of two immiscible liquids

Author

Listed:
  • Sai Zhao

    (The City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute)

  • Yongkang Jiang

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Yuchen Fu

    (The City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute)

  • Wei Chen

    (The City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute)

  • Qinrong Zhang

    (The City University of Hong Kong)

  • Liulin He

    (The City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute)

  • Changxiong Huang

    (The City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yao Liu

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Xiao Cheng Zeng

    (The City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yu Chai

    (The City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute)

Abstract

The assembly of polymers at liquid-liquid interfaces offers a promising strategy for fabricating two-dimensional polymer films. However, a significant challenge arises when the polymers lack inherent interfacial traction. In response, we introduce an approach termed chaperone solvent-assisted assembly. This approach utilizes a target polymer, X, along with three solvents: α, β, and γ. α and β are poor solvents for X and immiscible with each other, while γ is a good solvent for X and miscible with both α and β, thus serving as the chaperone solvent. The cross-interface diffusion of γ induces the assembly of interfacially nonactive X at the α-β interface, and this mechanism is verified through systematic in situ and ex situ studies. We show that chaperone solvent-assisted assembly is versatile and reliable for the interfacial assembly of polymers, including those that are interfacially nonactive. Several practical applications based on chaperone solvent-assisted assembly are also demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Sai Zhao & Yongkang Jiang & Yuchen Fu & Wei Chen & Qinrong Zhang & Liulin He & Changxiong Huang & Yao Liu & Xiao Cheng Zeng & Yu Chai, 2024. "Chaperone solvent-assisted assembly of polymers at the interface of two immiscible liquids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51657-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51657-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jun Zheng & Rong Fan & Huiqiong Wu & Honghui Yao & Yujie Yan & Jiamiao Liu & Lu Ran & Zhifang Sun & Lunzhao Yi & Li Dang & Pingping Gan & Piao Zheng & Tilong Yang & Yi Zhang & Tao Tang & Yang Wang, 2019. "Directed self-assembly of herbal small molecules into sustained release hydrogels for treating neural inflammation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Li Zhang & Inho Song & Jaeyong Ahn & Myeonggeun Han & Mathieu Linares & Mathieu Surin & Hui-Jun Zhang & Joon Hak Oh & Jianbin Lin, 2021. "π-Extended perylene diimide double-heterohelicenes as ambipolar organic semiconductors for broadband circularly polarized light detection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Wenqian Feng & Yu Chai & Joe Forth & Paul D. Ashby & Thomas P. Russell & Brett A. Helms, 2019. "Harnessing liquid-in-liquid printing and micropatterned substrates to fabricate 3-dimensional all-liquid fluidic devices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
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